Ifviproveiviewt in rotary swings



2 She'etsSheet 1'.

I. N. FORRESTER.

ROTARY-SWING.

PatentedNov.9,1875.

N.FETERS PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHiNGTON. D O,

2 Sheen -Sheet L.

I. N. FORRESTER.

ROTARY-SWING.

No.169,79,7 Patented Nov. 3, 1875.

N PETERS, FHbTO-LITWIGRAPHER. WASNNGTON, D C.

ISAAC N. FORRESTER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY swmes.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 169,797., datedNovember 9, 1875; application filed October 6, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC N. FORRESTER, of Baltimore city, Maryland,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Swings, ofwhich the following is a specification:

My invention relates to swings hung or pivoted in frames which revolveboth around their own axes and around a common center, the axis of whichis at a'right angle to the axes of the swing -'frames. A swing of thisclass is shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 70,985,granted me November 19, 1867.

My object is so to construct and mount the swing-frames that they may becaused to move directly upon and around a base or track, which supportstheir weight and causes them to revolve.

The subject-matter claimed will hereinafter specifically be set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view, and Fig.2 a view in elevation, of my improved swing.

A base, A, upon which the swing-frames run, may be either fixed ormovable, and composed of any suitable material. An upright revolvingshaft, B, is mounted in a suitable bearing in the center of the base A,and car ries a skeleton-frame, which rotates with it,

secured to its upper end, and consisting, in this instance, of fourarms, G, attached to the shaft by means of a sleeve or collar, 0, keyedor screwed in place. The arms 0, it will be seen, radiate from thecentral shaft, and extend out therefrom horizontally over the base A,preferably projecting at their outer ends beyond the base. The arms 0 ofthe revolving frame carry swing-frames, which are mounted upon theirouterends. Each of these swing -frames is composed of a wheel, 1),having a long hub or hearing, D, from the inner end of which spokes dradiateto the rim or tread, which bears and revolves upon the base A ator near its edge, and of shorter spokes d, radiating from the outer endof the hub. Disks or solid wheels might be substituted for both thewheel D and the side of the frame, composed of the spokes 01. Thesespokes cl might be made the same length as the main spokes; but I preferthem short, for a reason hereinafter given. The number of thesesupplementary spokes corresponds with the number of swings used, andthey are arranged, as shown, opposite to or parallel with the mainspokes d. In this instance there is a supplementary spoke opposite everyalternate main spoke. The swing-frames may, if desired, be adjusted ontheir supporting-arms (J, toward or from the center, to increase ordiminish the diameter or length of the track they traverse. Swings E arependulously supported between the main or wheel spokes d and the outerends of the supplementary spokes d by rods E, fitted at their oppositeends in the spokes, as shown. In this manner the swings always hangbelow the rods, and are maintained in the same upright position at alltimes during the revolutions of the swing-frames around their axes,which revolutions are caused, as will be seen, by the peripheries ortreads of the wheels D bearing and running upon the base A in a circulartrack as they are rotated around the central shaft B. The base thusdirectly sustains the weight of the swingframes, and relieves therotating frame (3 and driving-shaft B of all strain other than thatnecessary to maintain the swing frames in upright positions. The swingsare provided with seats f, and preferably with close bottoms, as shown.By making the spokes d shorter than the main or wheel spokes, andsuspending the swings from rods fitted in or near the ends of the spokesd, the outer sides of the swings are left unobstructed for the swingersto get in and out. I prefer to cause the wheels D to traverse the outerportion, or very near the edge of the base, so that no parts of theswings come over the base, as in this way the swings may be hung nearerthe peripheries of the wheels than they could be if they lapped or hungover the base, and

may, whenin their lowest positions, hang be-.

low the top of the. base. A circular rail-track might be secured uponthe base in the path traversed by the swing-frames, and the wheelsgrooved or flanged to run upon the track, and

it is obvious that the central shaft might be allowed very slightendwise movement, to ad;

mit of the wheels conforming to change caused by wear or otherwise inthe levelfiof the track. 4

The swing is driven by steamor any suitable power, or it may be made ofsmall or toy size, with figures or images fixed in the swings, and bedriven by a spring or clockwork, or rotated by hand.

I claim as my invention 1. The swing-frame hereinbefore described,consisting of the combination of the wheel, its long hub, the shortsupplementary spokes radiating from the hub parallel with the mainspokes, and the rods fitted at their ends in the spokes, as set forth. 7

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thebase, the rotating skeleton-frame, the swing-frames mounted thereon, andbearing upon and running around the base, and the swings suspended inthe frames.

scribed my name. a

I. N. FORRESTEB. Witnesses:

UPTON SCOTT, A. ROBINSON.

